CEBU, Philippines — The League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP)-Cebu Chapter is appealing to the Cebu Provincial Board (PB) to set aside its proposed ordinance increasing real property taxes.

LMP-Cebu President and Dumanjug Mayor Nelson Garcia asked the legislative body to instead find other ways to generate income without passing on this particular burden to the people.

Garcia cited Cebu province’s performance in the delivery of basic services up to the province’s farthest barangays.

He also said the mayors might face public indignation if and when the proposed 50 percent increase in the market value of real property in the province is effected “most especially now that the next elections are coming. Garcia expressed such concern during a public hearing conducted on the matter by the Committee on Ways and Means chaired by PB Member Wilfredo Caminero.

The PB is proposing to increase the market values of real properties within the jurisdiction of the province in order to recover its losses in real property taxes as the cityhood of Naga, Carcar and Bogo has not yet been passed on first reading at the PB.